Successful Combined Autologous Blood and Minocycline Pleurodesis for Intractable Bilateral Pneumothorax in an Elderly Patient With Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema: A Case Report.

Bilateral pneumothorax in elderly patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is rare and often precludes surgery. We report an 86-year-old man with CPFE and a persistent air leak unresponsive to tube drainage. Combined pleurodesis via the chest tube using 50 mL autologous blood and 100 mg minocycline diluted in 50 mL saline achieved cessation after two sessions 3 days apart. Two months later, contralateral pneumothorax occurred and was successfully treated using the same protocol. No procedure-related complications were observed; no recurrence was seen at 6-month follow-up. This simple bedside approach may be a practical option when surgery is contraindicated.